Question

Assertion (A): Soil erosion may lead to air pollution.

Reason (R): The chemicals in fertilizers dissolve in water and get passed on to the groundwater.

Options

• Both A and R are true, and R is the correct reason for A.

• Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct reason for A.

• A is true, and R is false.

• A is false, and R is true.

Answer 1

Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct reason for A.

Explanation:

Soil erosion lifts and releases fine soil particles (dust) into the air, producing particulate air pollution. The reason statement is also true: chemicals from fertilizers (nitrates, phosphates, pesticides) can dissolve or be carried by runoff and leach into groundwater. These are different processes (airborne dust vs. chemical leaching to water), so R does not explain A.